Chandigarh Set to Get 100 New Electric Buses as Legal Hurdle Cleared

Chandigarh is all set to expand its eco-friendly public transport fleet, with 100 new electric buses expected to hit the roads by the end of this year or early next year. This follows the conclusion of a legal dispute in the Delhi High Court that had stalled the process.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has now approached the agency that had earlier quoted the lowest bid but was denied the tender. Once the agency provides its consent, MoHUA will issue a Letter of Intent (LoI) and work order. If the agency declines, another service provider will be engaged to ensure the buses are delivered on schedule.

At present, Chandigarh operates 80 electric buses. With the addition of the upcoming fleet, the total will rise to 180. According to officials, the lowest quoted cost stood at ₹61 per bus per kilometre, of which MoHUA will subsidise ₹24. The Chandigarh administration will cover the remainder. As the 100 new e-buses will replace an equal number of ageing diesel buses, the administration anticipates annual savings of ₹18–20 crore.

Officials highlighted the urgency of the procurement, as 100 diesel buses are nearing the end of their operational life by November. “Since the tendering and allocation are entirely handled by MoHUA, we are closely coordinating with the ministry to expedite the process,” said a senior Chandigarh administration official.

More E-Buses on the Horizon

In August, the Central Sanctioning and Steering Committee (CSSC) of MoHUA approved the deployment of 328 additional electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. By 2026, Chandigarh expects to have more than 400 e-buses in operation, fully phasing out diesel vehicles across the Tricity routes. Currently, 80 e-buses are operational.